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(Dedicated to my Grandmother, born New Years Day, who passed away 2 days ago. This is JJ’s first Christmas Gift that he is wearing in this picture.)

The day after my mom died
Was Christmas morning
There were so many wonderful gifts
Under our tree.
We opened them peacefully
Mom would have wanted it that way.
She would have wanted
Her grandchildren to have a good Christmas.
I held back my tears
As each gift was opened
And that Christmas is such a blur,
But it is March now
And I still see the tiny patches of paper
In a corner of my dining room
That I carefully ripped from each gift
To look at later
Of all the love we got
That Christmas
Which was hard for me to see then
Through teary eyes.

Connie Webb

Original Image (Jesse Stay)
Poem Author: Connie Webb

I took this photo the day before my Grandfather’s funeral this year. The fog rolled in on the Huntington Beach Pier, producing one of the most beautiful sunsets I ever saw. It was as though my grandfather had touched the heavens and smiled at me. It was a peaceful and serene moment. This was written by him:

Just as the sun
Which blesses us
During the day
With light and warmth–

And in the evening
Drops below the horizon
Leaving us
In the chill dark of night–

Is not extinguished!

But shines still
On distant shores
Blessing with its radiance
Other Souls
Beyond our view

So this dear one
Who warmed our hearts
And lighted our lives
Through the day–

Now gone
Beyond the limited horizon
Of our mortal view.

Leaving us
In dark sorrow
And chill loneliness–

Is not dead!

But sheds warmth and light
On dear souls gone before

–Jesse E. Stay (my Grandfather)

Category: death

The Christmas Wrapping Paper

Just as the Sun